California Median
$143,590
per year
Hourly Rate
$69.03
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
-1% vs US median
US median $144,910
State Rank
#6 of 16
1,060 employed here
How much does a Petroleum Engineer make in California?
Petroleum Engineers in California take home a median of $143,590 annually — roughly $69.03 an hour — which runs 1% below the national median of $144,910.
Within California, entry-level pay starts around $61,780 while the top 10% make $207,370 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $126,500 and $171,980 a year.
Petroleum Engineer salary range in California
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $61,780 | $29.70 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $126,500 | $60.82 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $143,590 | $69.03 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $171,980 | $82.68 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $207,370 | $99.70 |
|
How California compares
California ranks 6th out of 16 states and territories for Petroleum Engineer pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Petroleum Engineer salary in other states
Alaska $206,290Utah $172,840Colorado $172,190Texas $164,860Oklahoma $153,020Louisiana $139,640Washington $134,800North Dakota $132,120Kansas $115,640Montana $104,060Pennsylvania $101,880Nebraska $100,800New Mexico $99,900Ohio $99,260West Virginia $93,360
Working as a Petroleum Engineer in California
Nationally, about 18,000 people work as Petroleum Engineers in the United States. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.
Considering a move? Compare California pay ($143,590) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Petroleum Engineer make in California?
The median Petroleum Engineer salary in California is $143,590 per year, or about $69.03 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $61,780 at the entry level to $207,370 for the top 10% of earners.
How does California pay compare to the national average?
California pays Petroleum Engineers about 1% less than the national median of $144,910. California ranks 6th out of 16 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is California a good state for Petroleum Engineers?
Pay runs below the national median here, at $143,590 a year. About 1,060 Petroleum Engineers are employed in California. A lower cost of living can offset the smaller paycheck, so compare take-home value, not just salary.
What are the highest-paying jobs in California?
The highest-paying occupations in California include Ophthalmologist, Except Pediatric ($400,150), Neurologist ($357,080), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($353,900), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Petroleum Engineer salary report
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.